Lennon Miller reacts to major Motherwell honour as he sends confident message ahead of exciting Rangers battle
There was another milestone for the Motherwell sensation as he continues his rapid rise.
Lennon Miller has been left honoured after standing in as Motherwell captain at the age of just 18.
The midfielder was again impressive as Stuart Kettlewell’s side returned to winning ways in the Premiership with a fine 2-1 success at Dundee United. A Tawanda Maswanhise double sets the team up nicely for a Premier Sports Cup semi-final with a flagging Rangers side on Sunday, with Motherwell now in fourth and only three points behind the third-placed side.
With skipper Paul McGinn injured, vice-skipper Stephen O’Donnell went down with a muscle problem in the first half. There were some older and more experienced players out on the pitch but manager Kettlewell didn’t hesitate to hand the teenage academy graduate a leadership role.
It was a proud moment for Miller and not one he expected. He told the Motherwell Times post-match: “To be captain, it’s what dreams are made of when you join the academy and make your way through it. It was an honour. I didn’t expect it.
“There are obviously more experienced players than me so it wasn’t something I thought was going to happen. The manager shouted me over and told me to take it. I thought in the second half we were really good.
“We’re happy to get the win. There was no big words in the dressing room! I am quite quiet, I’d rather do my talking on the pitch.”
Kettlewell said of the midfielder: “It’s the easiest decision in the world. It wasn’t something I was thinking about, I wasn’t thinking about Stephen coming off the pitch. When I knew he had an issue, it’s not a difficult decision.
“That’s not to belittle any of the players on the pitch but if you have someone on the pitch who completes those 90 minutes all the time, a pillar of our team, I believe in trying to empower people and giving people opportunities. It’s a big thing for him and his family but from that point on I thought he showed a captain’s performance.”
Now attentions turns to the national stadium against Rangers, and in one-off occasions, Miller knows that a day of destiny can be unlocked. He added: “I’m really excited. It’s a first cup semi-final for me. In a one-off game, anything can happen.”